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Trout nearing third consecutive All-Star selection

6/27/14: Mike Trout crushes a solo home run that reaches the fountain in left-center field, giving the Angels an early 1-0 lead

By Alden Gonzalez
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MLB.com |

CHICAGO -- You can pencil Mike Trout into the All-Star Game starting lineup now.

Better yet, use a pen.

As if there was ever any doubt, the Angels' superstar center fielder looked primed to start his second straight Midsummer Classic when the latest fan-voting results for the American League were revealed on Monday with just four days before ballots close. Trout has amassed 4,085,647 votes, still nearly 400,000 shy of Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista for first in the AL, but more than 2 million more votes than any other outfielder in the Junior Circuit.

Trout would be making his third trip to the All-Star Game in as many full seasons, and would be the first Angels position player to start in back-to-back Midsummer Classics since Vladimir Guerrero did it four consecutive times from 2004-07.

"To get all those votes, it means to a lot, that you have fans that take the time out to vote for me," Trout said. "The All-Star Game is for the fans. If I get to go there, it's going to be something special, to be able to be there with the fans. The last two experiences I had at the All-Star Game were awesome. It's definitely one of the things I look forward to if I get selected."

Albert Pujols currently ranks fourth among first basemen, roughly 2.2 million votes behind the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, who's coasting towards his fifth straight All-Star Game. Josh Hamilton moved from 15th to 13th among outfielders in an eight-day stretch and is just over 1 million votes behind surging A's left fielder Yoenis Cespedes for the third and final spot.

Angels' shortstop Erick Aybar, who has posted a .283/.323/.430 slash line and ranks second among AL shortstops in Wins Above Replacement, is still not among the top five in fan votes at his position.

Trout, however, remains a popular choice.

The 22-year-old phenom entered Monday's series opener against the White Sox ranked sixth in the AL in batting average (.314), first in OPS (1.017) and first in WAR (5.1), while adding 18 homers, 59 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and 54 runs scored.

Currently set to join Trout in the AL starting lineup are Bautista, Cespedes, Cabrera, A's third baseman Josh Donaldson, Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz and O's catcher Matt Wieters, who won't play again this season because of Tommy John surgery.

Fans can cast their votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or on a mobile device -- using the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Experian until Thursday at 8:59 p.m. PT. The 2014 All-Star Game will be played at Target Field on Tuesday, July 15.

Fans may submit up to 25 online ballots, but they can also earn a one-time bonus of 10 additional online ballots. To access these additional online ballots, you must be logged into your MLB.com account when you submit any online ballot. If you do not have an MLB.com account, register on the site in accordance with the enrollment instructions for a free MLB.com account.

Fans will have the opportunity to select three players in each league who they would most like to see participate in the Gillette Home Run Derby. The 2014 Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 5 p.m. PT on Monday, July 14.

The 2014 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on the Taco Bell All-Star Selection Show on Sunday, July 6, beginning at 7 p.m. EST on ESPN, with further details to follow on MLB.com. Immediately following the announcement of the AL and NL All-Star rosters, fans can begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Experian. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each league over the balloting period.

The final phase of All-Star Game voting will have fans participating in the voting of the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2014 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote Sponsored by Pepsi, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.

The 85th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.